Fruit preparation machine



April 23, 1957 W, DE BACK ETAL 2,789,603

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE Filed June 10, 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllATTORNEY April 23, 1957 w. DE BACK vErm.

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 10, 1955 @m ON m.mm m0 mvENToRs mmm os anca ggg SYLVIC PUGGINELLI avw ATTORNEY April z3,1957 w. DE! BACK ET AL FRUT PREPARATION MACHINE 6 sheets-Sheet 5 F. ledJune 10, 1955 INVENTORS WILLIAM DE BACK SYLVIO PUGCINELLI Bv HW ATTORNEYApril 23, 1957 W. DE BACK ET AL 2,789,603

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE :E- I E E April 23, 1957 w. DE BACK ErAL2,789,603

FRUT PREPARATION MACHINE Filed June l0. 1955 6 Sheets-Sheet. 5

INVENTORS WILLIAM DE BACK SYLVIO PUCGINELLI ATTORNEY Pl'l 23, 1957 w. DEBACK ETAL 2,789,603

FRUIT PREPARATION MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 10, 1955 INVINTORS.WILLIAM DE BACK ATTORNEY V United States Patent 7 Claims. (Cl. 146-43)and Sylv'io' Food Ma- Calif., a'

This invention Vpertains to improvements in machinery for processingfruit and more particularly relates to an improved machine for peelingfruit, such as p earsand the like.

In pearlpeeling machines of the type in which` a cut-` ting blade ismoved in a straight line alongthe length of the pear in cuttingcontactwith only one side'tliereof, it is particularly dilicult to providesupport which is adevT quate to counteract the pressure of the cutterassembly. and which will, at the same time, permit easy adjustment, ofthe position of the pear during subsequent peeling Aop'erl ations.Additionally, in straight linepeelers, it is diicult to maintain thelongitudinally moving cutterin cutting contact with the steeply inclinedsurface of the b lossorn' or butt end of the pear.

' Accordingly, it is anvobject of the present invention, to provide aneflicient pear support means lfor .a straight line pear peeling machine.

Another object is to provide means for maintaining the cutter head of astraight linepear` peeling machine" incutting contact with the pear asthe cutter headtraverses the blossom o r butt end of the p ear.

Another object is to provide means for automatically positioning asupport member under apearbeing peeled and removing said support memberfrom under 'the pear` in coordination with consecutive peeling strokes,of a` straight line pear peeler.

Other and'further objects andadvantages of theprcs-y ent invention willbecome apparent from the followingJ description taken vin connetionwiththeaccompanying drawings. i i Fig. 1 is afragmentary plan of a pearpeeling mach e constructed in accordance with the teachings ofthe, prent invention. c

'1'.Fig.2is a fragmentary side elevation of thornachine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of a'portionvoftheA machine of Fig.1` taken along line 3--3 of Fig. 1

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section takenonlines` 4-4of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View, with parts broken away', of a portionof the present pear peeling machine, taken'along lines 5--5 of Fig. 2.

yFig. 6 is afragmentary sideelevation, with partsbroken way 'take nalong lines 6-6of Fig. 5. y

Y :'Fig. v7- is a fragmentary vertical section taken along lines 7--7of'Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical` section taken along lines8-8 of Figi'S, particularly showing the` position of the knife controlmechanism as the knife moves over the butt end of the'pear. Y v 'i Fig.9 is a fragmentary perspective of the cutter assembly u sed with thepear peeling machine of the present invention. j Fig. 10 is a verticalsection taken on lines 10-10 of Pig. 9, showing the cutter head in aninitial rotated posig tiba` v a 2,789,60e Batented Apr. 23, 1957 iceFig...11 is a fragmentary vertical section taken on lines 11--11 of Fig.5.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along lines 1l-ell ofFig. 5, with parts broken away.

f 13 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along 1in es 11- 11 of Fig.5, particularly showing the relationshipof the cutter and the pear atthe beginning of a pee1- ing stroke.

`In Figs 2 and 3 the reference numeral 15 indicates a carriage onwhich afruit 16, such as a pear, is transported inthe direction indicated byarrow 17 along a support structure 18 with the stem-blossom axis of thepear disposed in a substantially horizontal plane. The pear is im'paledon a support rod or tube 19 and is supported by'a butt clamp 20 (Fig. 2)which is pivotally mounted'on thecarriage 15. As the pear is carriedalong thestructure 18, it passes under a plurality of consecutivecutters 21, each of which contacts the pear at itsstem end and Vslices alongitudinal strip of peel from they surface of the pear, the stripextending from the stem end to the blossom end of the pear. In orderthat each cutter 21 will contact an unpeeled portion of the pear,thesupport tube is indexed angularly about its axis immediately afterthe pear passes each cutter. lt will be understood that asufficientnumber of cutters 21 is provided so that the cuts will overlap and theskin will be removedl from theen'tire surface of each pear during onecomplete angular indexing of the pear.

The'support structure 1S comprises a pair of spaced, longitudinallyextendingside frame members 24 and 25 (Fig. 1), each side frame memberconsisting of a plurality of upright posts 27 to the upper end of whichis secured a longitudinally extending, upright rigid bar 28. The sideframes 24 and 25 are secured together in mutual bracing relation bytransverse straps 30.

To provide tracks for the carriage 15, oppositely disposed flat bars 33and 34 (Fig. 3) are secured, as by welding, to the inner faces of thelongitudinal bars 28. Two grooved wheels 35 are rotatably mounted bypins 36\o11.`each side of the carriage 15, the groove of each wheelbeing adapted to receive the edge of one of the tracks 33 or 34 inrolling engagement. Each carriage 15 isgpropelledalong the supportstructure 18 by a continuously. driven endless chain 37l which ismounted on the support structure 13 in a conventional manner and has itsupper run supported in sliding relation on a flat support member 38mounted on the frame member 30 immediately below and parallel to thetrack 33. The chain 37-is provided with spaced upstanding drive lugs 39,each ofwhich is arranged to drivingly engage an arm 40 which overliesthe chain 37 and which is integrally formed on a bracket41 fixedlysecured to the forward portion of each carriage 15. In this manner, thecontinuously moving chain 37 may simultaneously advance a plurality ofcarriages 15 one after the other past the aligned cutters 21. The.spaced tracks 33 and 34, which support the carriages, may be hatthroughout their length so that each c arriage with an unpeeled pearthereon may be bodily placed on the tracks at one end of the machine, asat theA left end of Fig. 2, and removed at the opposite end after thepear has been peeled. If desired, the tracks 33 and34 may be formed as aclosed circuit around which the carriages are continuously moved. Itwill be evident that, with a circuitous arrangement, the curved portionsof the tracks 33 and 34 must have a curvature sufliciently large toaccommodate the carriage 15.

Each cutter 21 includes a concave guide roller 42 (Fig. 9) that isrotatably mounted on a shaft 43 which has' flattened end portions 44(Fig. 10) secured, as by yswaging, in openings in the outer ends of twospaced roller support, arms 45 and 46 (Fig. 9). Each support arm carriesa stub shaft 47 vwhich is rotatably journaled in one of two arms 4S and49 of a yoke 50; The'guide roller 42 is, therefore, freely rotatableabout its Own axis on the shaft 43 and is rotatableas a unitwith thewise" direction by'a roller 94 (Figs. 7 and `8) that is ro-` tatablymounted on a bar 95 secured to the bottom of the carriage 15. The bar 95projects laterally from the spaced arms 45 and 46 about the axisofhej1gd- 5 carriage 15 and is so located thereon that it contacts thestub shafts 47. A torsion spring 52 is anchored' afon end in a hole inthe yoke arm 49 and at the otheerd in a collar 54 adjustably secured 'toVone of the aligned stub shafts 47. The torsion spring 52 tends torotatie the shaft 47 in a clockwise direction (Fig.l V1`O).-and to pivotthe guide roller 42 and the two arms 4 5 and 46l as a unit towardtheposition shown in Fig. v'vt/'hielt is the position the roller assumesbefore each cutting stroke of the knife and is defined by theabutment ofa shoulder -56 formed on the arm A v l jecting from the yoke arm 49. 'A'-peeling knife 59 `(Fig. 9), having a cutting edge 60, extendstransversely,Y o f v the yoke 50 and is secured at each end toVbosses'61*fcgrr1f1ed on the arms 45 and 46. The intermediateA portionof the knife is arcuate in shape so as vto conform toy the contour ofthe concave guide vroller 42. VThe guide roller 42 gauges the depth ofthe'icut takenby the knife 59and steers or turns the knife to followclosely the irregular contour ofthe fruit. As the roller 42 traversesthe surface of the pear, theiknife is pivotedifrom the position 2 ofFig. l in a counterclockwise direction againstihe resistance of thetorsion spring-52 until a shoulderfi6r3 formed on the arm 46 abuts thestop pin 57. f tu; -1

Each cutter 21 is supported in positionovertl'te4 mov-` ing carriages bymeans ofv a bellcrank 641(Fig. .f6) which has a hub 65 pivotally mountedon an elongated support bar.67. The bellcrank has a short arm 68Vand along arm 69 which is arranged toA hold the yoke 50 of the cutter infixed, depending relation.` As best seen in Fig 2., the bar 67 extendslongitudinally of the sup-J port frame 18 and `is supported from theframe 18 by a plurality of spaced vertical posts 72. An unpersu'p1- portbar 73 is adjustably mounted longitudinally of the machine immediatelyabove the bar 67 Vbymeans of a plurality of 'bolts k74 each of whichextends through an opening in the vertical bar 72 and through a slot 75in theupper support bar 73. The bellcrank 64 (Figr) is urged in aclockwise pivoting directon'by a tension spring 77, which vis anchored`at one end on a pin 78 projecting from the upper support bar 73 and isanchored at the other end on a pin `79 projecting from the .outerl endof the short arm 68` ofthe bellcrank 64. Clockwise pivoting movement ofthe bellcrank 64 is limited4 by a ledge `80 formed on an angle member 81which .projects inwardly from the support bar 67. Y

As seen in Fig. 8, when the cutter 21 movesover theA butt end of a pear,itrnust move a considerable distance downwardvat the same time that itmoves longitudinally of the pear. To maintain the cutter against thepearasit moves over the butt end of the pear, `an additional for-ce mustbe appliedto the bellcrank tending to 'swing the cutter rapidlydownwardly along the butt of the pear. A feature iof the presentinvention is the arrangementY for applying this additional force to thecutter. -Inaccordance with this invention a rod 82 is pivotally-connected by a pin 83 to the arm 68 `of the bellcrank 64. The rod S2 isslidably journaled in two spaced bearing members 85 that are formed inspaced relation onia link 86 which is pivotally connected by a pin 87'toa cam lever 89. At its upper end the cam lever 89 is pivotally mountedon the support bar 67 by a bolt 90. At:Y its lower end the lever 89carries a shoe 91. A spring 92 is'disposed on the rod 82 between oneofVthe bear ings 85 and a nut 93, that is threaded on the end'of ltheV 70rod. Whenthe cam lever 89 is swung in acoiinter-f Clockwise dimmen (Fig.s), the link s6 is moved .toward the right to exert a pull on the rod 82through the-spring 921.`V To apply the above-mentioned additionalforce-5to" the bellcrank as the cutter starts down thel butt end-*ofi bythe butt clamp 20 (Fig. l1).

shoe 91 of the cam lever 89 just as the cutter starts down the butt endof the pear.

Since each carriage 15 is provided with a roller 94, the lever 89 andthe bellcrank 64 will be pivoted each 10 time a carriagepassestherebeneath. Thus, each cutter' 21 will be subjected to apredetermined supplemental pressure as it moves downwardly along thebutt en d of the pear. ,i y y As previously mentioned, during thepeellng operation 15 the pear is impaled on a stemming tube 19 (Fig. 5)which is provided with tins 96 on one end and is secured at the otherend to a pinion 97 (Fig. 4) that is rotatably journaled ina cylindricalhousing 98 integrally formed transversely on a sleeve 99.' The sleeve99isirotatbly- `20 journled in spaced l secured to the upper surface ofthe carriage 15. A torbearing blocks 100 which arerigidly sion spring101, connected between a clamp 10'3o' sleeye 99 and one of the bearingblocks ,100 holds the "stemming tubein circular 'stop plate 104,which'is secured to a clamp 10,5, abuts fthe side of the other bearingblock 101),as shown igr'g; v5. Journaled within the Sleeve 99, andarranges to slide'axiallyl therein, is a rod 106 having a circular rack107vf`ormed thereon, the teeth of the rack being arranged uto mesh withteeth 108 of the pinion 97. `:It willfbe evidentv that, as the rod 106is shifted from left to right, or vice versa, the pinion 97 and theattached stemming' tube will be angularly indexed, about the axis ofthepinion, a number of degreesproportional tothe amount of lateral shiftingof the rod 106. The lateral disposition of the rod 106 is controlled bytwo longitudinally extending, horizontally disposed camfplates 109 Vand'110 (Figs. 3 and 1) which have camming edges against which the oppositeends of the rod 106 abut. E ach cam plate has a plurality of straightcamming edge portions '113, 113:1, 11311, 113e and 113d connected byslanted transition portions 114. The edge portions 113, 1:13a', 113b,113e and 113d on one cam plate are of the s'ame longitudinal extent andare directly opposite corresponding edge portions on the other cam plateand cooperate therewith to determine the lateral position of, therod106. As seen in Fig. 1, at the left-hand end of the machine the edges113, 113 hold the rod 106 ina limitingposition at one side of themachine. As the crri'gefls travels toward Vthe right, the rod 106 willbc shifted (step by step transversely of the frame -until the cammingedges 11u3d, 113d are reached. At this point th"e"iod`106'vhas reachedthe limiting position at the oppositeside of thernachine and theintermittent angular indexing movementsof the stemming tube and the pearthereon will be completed. It will be understood that the number ofangular indexing movements of the stem# ming tube are so coordinatedwith the width of each strip of peel severed by the rotary cutter thatthe entire surface of the pear is peeled while the pear is rotated onecomplete revolution.

'When a strip of peel is being cut from the pear, the pear is supportedjointly by the stemming tube 19 and The butt clamp 20 has two wings 115each of which has a sponge rubber pear-contacting pad 116 (Fig. 12)secured thereto. The clamp 20 also has an integrally formed rearstrap117 (Fig. 12) with outwardly projectingiupperl and lower ears 118 whichare apertured to receive a pivot pin 119. The piny 119 extends throughthe ears 118 and through an elongat'edopening 120 in one end A arm, 121,the other end of which is keyed to a shaftl-ZZ 1 that is 'Ajournaled intwo spaced posts 123 .that project 5 upwardlyfrom the carriage 15. 'Thebutt clamp 20 is arranged for movement between the raised pear-supportapredetermined position, wherein AaIV of an L-shaped.

ing position of Fig. 11 to the lowered position of Fig. 12, by means ofa control arm 124 that is keyed to the shaft 122 and carries a rollerfollower 125 which is arranged to ride along the top surface of a camtrack 126. The track 126 has a plurality of depressions 128 spaced alongits length.

When the roller 125 drops into a depression, the butt clamp is loweredto the position of Fig. 12. The depressions 128 are so arranged that, asseen in Fig. 6, the butt clamp will be lowered immediately after one ofthe cutters 21 has completed its cutting stroke. When the butt clamp islowered away from the pear, there is no resistance to the rotaryindexing of the paper, and accordingly the locations of the depressions128 are coordinated with the locations of the transition portions 1.14of the cam plates 109 and 110 so that the rotary indexing of the peartakes place while the butt clamp is in lowered position.

At the beginning of each cutting stroke it is necessary that the cutter21 be disposed in a position in which the guide roller 42 may readilyengage the stem end of the pear. For this purpose the carriage isprovided with a track 129 (Fig. 3) in the form of a curved strap ofmetal extending longitudinally of the carriage. At its forward and rearends, the track 129 has integrally formed eye connections 130 throughwhich the axle pins 36 of the wheels 35 extend. The track 129v isarranged to be contacted by a curved follower shoe 131 which is formedon the end of the arm 49 of the cutter yoke 50. It will be noted in Fig.6 that the track is provided with a portion 132 which lifts the cutterclear Iof the stemming tube housing and a portion 134 which lifts thecutter clear of the free end of the stemming tube if no pear is impaledthereon. An intermediate guide portion 135 positions the cutter so thatthe guide roller 42 is in posi` tion to ride up the stem end of a pearimpaled on the stemming tube. It willbe understood that, before the pearis impaled on the stemming tube, the stem end 0f the pear is cut off sothat the remaining portion has a predetermined diameter.

The machine of the present invention is put into operation by startingthe power unit (not shown) that drives the endless chain 37. Eachupstanding lug 39 on the chain 37 will drivingly engage the arm 40 of acarriage bracket 41 to propel the carriage forwardly in the direction ofarrow 17 along the support structure 18. The operator is stationed at aloading point which may be located at the left hand end of the machineof Figs. l and 2. As each carriage passes, the operator impales a pear`on the stemming tube 19 and the pear is then carried toward the rightunder the consecutive cutters 21.

As each pear approaches a cutter, the follower shoe 131 (Fig. 6) of thecutter contacts the -guide track 129 so that the cutter is tirst raisedover the stemming tube housing 102 and then, when the shoe 131 ridesalong the guide surface 135, the cutter is positioned in a predetermineddesirable position relative to the stem end Iof the pear. In thisposition the guide roller 42 and the cutting blade 59 can advantageouslyengage the pear and begin to slice a longitudinal peel therefrom.

As the blade 59 traverses the pear from the stem end to the blossom end,the spring 77 exerts a continuous pull on the bellcrank 64 to maintainthe roller 42 in contact with the pear. As the roller 42 starts down thebutt end of the pear, the bellcrank is swung in a clockwise direction bythe engagement of the cam lever 89 with the roller 94 that is carried bythe carriage 15. This supplemental pivoting movement of the bellcrankcauses the cutter to quickly pass down the butt end of the pear andcomplete the longitudinal cut. The bracket S1 (Fi-g. 6) stops thedownward movement of the cutter when it approaches the center of thebutt end.

Immediately after the pear passes from under the cutter, the rollerfollower 125 of the butt clamp rassembly drops into a depression 128 inthe cam track` 126 'causing the butt clamp to be lowered out of contactwith the' pear. When the clamp is clear of the pear, the stem-Y mingtube 19 is indexed to present an unpeeled surface t-o the next cutter.When the indexing is completed, the roller follower rides out of thedepression 128 and raises the butt clamp into contact with the pear.

i l From the foregoing description it will be seen that this inventionprovides a novel means for peeling a fruit while it is continuouslymoved along a straight line path. The use of a supplemental meansto'move the cutter rapidly down the butt end of` the pear permits thepearl to be advanced at a constant linear speed while assuring positive,complete cutting of the peel. i

While the machine of the present invention is particu-2 larly adaptedfor use in peeling pears, it is evident that many other types of fruitcould be efficiently peeled in this machine. It will be understood thatmodifications and variations of the embodiment of the inventiondisclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the scope ofthe novel concepts of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

l. A machine for peeling pears or the like comprising a carriage movablealong a straight line path, means for mounting a pear on said carriagewith the sternblossom axis of the pear substantially parallel to saidpath, a support member adjacent said path, a bellcrank mountedon saidsupport member for pivoting movement on an axis substantially transverseto said path, said bellcrank having one arm extending over said path, acutter mounted on said one arm for movement across said path, means forpositioning said cutter in a predetermined position relative to thesurface of a pear mounted on said carriage, atension spring connectedbetween the other arm of said bellcrank and said support member andarranged to pivot said bellcrank in a predetermined direction to urgesaid cutter against a pear being advanced on said carriage, a buttsupport pivotally mounted on said carriage, and camming means disposedin fixed position relative to said support member and operativelyassociated with said butt support for holding said butt support insupporting contact with the pear on said carriage while said cuttertraverses said pair and for permitting said butt support to move out ofpear supporting position when the pear passes from under said cutter.

2. A pear peeling machine comprising a carriage movable along a straightline path, means for mounting a pair on said carriage with thestem-blossom axis of the pear substantially parallel to said path, acutter yieldably mounted above said path, guide means for positioningsaid cutter in the path of the stem end of the pear to engage said stemend and start a lengthwise peeling cut as the pear moves under theyieldable cutter, resilient means continuously biasing said cutter intopeeling contact with the pear as said cutter traverses the length of thepear, a support member mounted on said carriage in vertical alignmentwith said cutter and arranged to engage and support a pear held on saidmounting means when said cutter is in peeling contact with the pear, andmeans operatively connected between said cutter and said carriage formoving said cutter a predetermined distance toward the center of thebutt end of the pear as said cutter moves over the butt end.

3. A machine for peeling pears or the like comprising a carriage mountedfor movement along a straight line path, a support rod having one endsecured to said carriage and having a free end adapted to receive a pearin supporting relation with the stem-blossom axis of the pearsubstantially parallel to the path of movement of the pear, a cuttermounted above said path of movement and having a cutting edge extendinginto contact with the pear to slice a longitudinal strip of peeltherefrom as said cutter traverses the length of the pear, a buttsupport member pivotally mounted on said carriage below the'free endofvsaid ,support rod, cam means yoperatively assoeiatedrwith said buttsupport member and coordinated withgthefpositionvof said cutter'yfor'raising said buttsupportfmember into supporting contact with thepear -as saidlcutter slices -a peel therefrom. Y t M4. *Amachine forpeeling pears or the like comprising a carriage-mounted for movementalonga straight line path,=f-a"support tube mounted adjacent one end onsaid carriage=andadapted to receive arpear on its free end withtherstem-blosslom axis of the pear substantially paral-v lel-to-the pathof movement of the pear, a butt support member pivotally mounted on saidcarriage below the freerfend of lsaid support tube, a x'ed cam trackmounted below the path of movement of the carriage, and a cam followeron said butt support member and in engagement with -thecamming-surfaceofsaid cam-track, said cammingsurface being arranged to pivot said buttsupport member'upwardly into supportingcontact with a pear onfthefreeend'of said tube as said carriage moves along @predetermined portion'ofsaid path'and to permit said butt support member to move out ofpear-supporting position when saidpredetermined portion of the path hasbeen traversed.

V5. A machine for peeling pears or the like comprising pcarriage mountedfor movement along a straight line path,Y a rod pivotally mounted onsaid carriage and having a free end adapted to impale a pear along itslongitudinal axis, a butt clamp mounted on said carriage below thepeariimpaling portion of said rod, said clamp having self-adjustingpivotally mounted pear-contacting support members, means for holdingsaid clamp in contact with a pear impaled-on said rod, and cutter meansextending into the path of movement of a pear supported in dsaid buttclamp to slice a peel therefrom.

l u6*. A machine for peeling pears or the like comprising aV carriagemounted for movement along a straight line path, a` rotatable supportmember mounted on said carriage and adapted to support a pear forrotational movement about its longitudinal axis, a butt clamp pivotallymounted on said carriage directly below the pear-supporting portion 'ofsaid rotatable member, a fixed cam disposedk below the path of movementof said carriage, means on' said butt clamp and operatively associatedwith said fixed cam for pivoting said butt clamp upwardly intosupporting relation with said pear and for permitting said butt clamp topivot downwardly out of pear sup- 3 .pitihg position, iandfssecond cam.means :s operatively Tassociatedwith said- Iotatable member. forrotating the `same and' coordinated withvsaid iixedcatn `to rotate'said`ro tatable'support member fwhensaid. buttclamp is inloweredlposition-removed from supporting engagement with the pear. v j `'L(,Amachineffor peeling a pear or the like comprising a carriageV mountedfor movement along a straight line path, a rotatable support `rodmounted on said carriage and having -a freezend adapted toimpale a pearalong its longitudinal axis, `a Abutt support clamp pivotally mounted on-said carriage directly belowithe pear-impaling portion of said rod,acamrrfollower carried `by said butt clamp, a'fxed` cam-disposed below`the path of movementlof said* carriage` 'and havingalcammingsurfaceengagingsaid cam follower to alternatelyraisesaid butt`Yclamp into supportingengagement withV a pear on said rod and lower saidclampV away `from pear-supporting position, a support structure.adjacentthe pathfof movementof said carriage, a 'cutter-'pivotallymounted on :said'support structure and disposedl above the pear. onsaidrod, a cam lever pivotally mounted 'on said` support4v structure, `alinkage pivotally connecting said cam'lever to `said cutter so thatpivoting of said 4lever in Ia-predetermined direction causesdownwardjswinging-moveme'ntof said cutter toward the pear on saidsupportrod,` a roller carried by said carriage andarrang'edtOfengageSaidcam'leVer to pivot said lever in s'aidvpredetermined directionyand stationary cam means carried rby vsaid'support structure and operatively associated with said rotatablesupport rod to rotate the rod in xed -incremeiits,`fsaid lixed-buttclampcam, said cam lever actuating lroller,"and said stationary cam meanshaving cammingt. surfaces positioned in coordinated relation1'Witl1eacl'1`"other-where'by to consecutively raise saidbuttclamp vtopear-supportingposition; swing said cutter downwardly toward the pear,lower said butt clamp away ifrom'the pear, and'rotate the pear holderwhile said butt-clamp is in lowered position.'

'References Cited' in the tile of this .patent j lUNITED sTATEs PATENTS2,699,191 De Back et al Ian. 11, 1955

